Transportation (Traffic Safety)

Requires the Department of Transportation to administer a statewide program for certification of active intelligent speed assistance systems and select a vendor for the installation and maintenance of systems. Limits the civil liability of motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors, and retailers for active intelligent speed assistance systems. Makes circumventing or tampering with an active intelligent speed assistance system a misdemeanor. Establishes penalties for operating a motor vehicle in violation of a court-ordered active intelligent speed assistance system requirement. Allows the Judiciary to impose the installation of active intelligent speed assistance systems as an additional penalty and as part of a license suspension or revocation for repeat offenders of certain traffic violations. Effective 1/1/2028. (CD1)

Clarifies driver's obligations at crosswalks. Requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in crosswalks. Strengthens penalties for traffic violations, particularly in school zones. Creates additional criminal penalties when pedestrians suffer bodily injury. Provides heightened protections for blind and visually impaired pedestrians. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

SB 3234 appropriates funds to the Department of Transportation to install all-way crosswalks at locations directly adjacent to school properties. This bill directly affects schools, students, and staff by funding physical safety infrastructure at school entrances and exits. The key provision requires the Department of Transportation to use allocated money for these specific crosswalk installations. The bill is currently under review by the TRS and WAM committees, with a public hearing scheduled for February 10, 2026.

HB 2415 appropriates state funds to the Department of Transportation for installing pedestrian safety improvements (like crosswalks or signage) at locations directly adjacent to school properties. It also directs the department to consider implementing similar safety measures at other high-risk sites beyond school areas. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to use these allocated funds for specific traffic safety projects, effective July 1, 3000. This policy change directly affects school communities and pedestrians near schools by directing state resources toward physical safety infrastructure.

PART I: Requires motor vehicles to have front number plate mounting brackets or devices and for sellers, licensed dealers, or owners to securely affix number plates to the vehicles. PART II: Amends the Traffic Code relating to street racing. PART III: Expands the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program to high-risk locations of state or county highways as determined by the Department of Transportation, under certain conditions. Appropriates moneys. PART IV: Authorizes the installation of a school bus infraction detection system on the exterior of a school bus. Establishes strict liability and the process for issuing summons or citations for drivers shown by the system to be in violation of certain school bus laws. Clarifies the liability of drivers near a school bus that is actively monitored by a school bus infraction detection system. Appropriates moneys. PART V: Specifies that the Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Safety Office shall administer the Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program Special Fund and Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. PART VI: Clarifies language relating to photo red light enforcement, automated speed enforcement, and penalty provisions. PART VII: Requires the Director of Transportation to adopt rules allowing for mobile vehicle safety inspections of passenger cars. Effective 7/1/3000; provided that part IV, except the rule-making directive and appropriation, effective 7/1/2028. (SD2)

Part I: Requires drivers of vehicles approaching stationary motor vehicles stopped in any location on the roadway, shoulder, or roadside to slow down and make a lane change if necessary. Part II: Prohibits the operation of a pickup truck with a passenger seated in the bed or load-carrying area on roadways with posted speed limits of forty-six miles per hour or higher and roadways with three or more lanes traveling in the same direction. Provides certain exemptions from passenger restrictions. Increases the minimum age to ride in the bed or load-carrying area of a pickup truck while in operation from twelve years of age to eighteen years of age. 0Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires, when planning and managing state highways, in certain areas to be determined by certain national standards. Establishes requirements for the State Highway Safety and Modernization Council. Authorizes the State Highway Safety and Modernization Council to select potential areas for the Department of Transportation to install additional photo red light imaging detector systems. Prohibits any vehicles from blocking marked crosswalks. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to implement additional automated speed enforcement systems in school zones as designated by the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee. Requires annual reports. Requires the Department of Transportation to collaborate with the Judiciary before any expansion of the photo red light imaging detector and automated speed enforcement systems. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Allows authorized employees of the Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to inspect and provide a certificate of certain evidence of speed limit violations obtained by automated speed enforcement systems. Appropriates funds to the Department of Transportation to establish and implement the automated speed enforcement systems program.

HB 2154 establishes a framework for using intelligent speed assistance (ISA) technology, which alerts drivers when exceeding speed limits, specifically targeting habitual speeders. It directly affects drivers with repeated speeding violations by requiring their vehicles to integrate this technology. The bill mandates that the state agency implement this framework and submit a detailed report to the Legislature on its effectiveness and costs. This is a policy change focused on traffic safety technology adoption, not on new penalties or enforcement procedures.

Part I: Requires drivers approaching stationary vehicles displaying warning signals to slow down to a reasonable and prudent speed and make a lane change if possible and safe to do so or come to a complete stop if necessary. Part II: Provides certain exemptions from passenger restrictions related to the operation of a pickup truck with a passenger seated in the bed or load-carrying area of the vehicle. Increases the minimum age to ride in the bed or load-carrying area of a pickup truck while in operation from twelve years of age to sixteen years of age. (CD1)